Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanju, Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Ltd., has urged Nigerian universities to prioritise research into artificial intelligence (AI) and local hardware production to strengthen the digital economy and address national challenges.
Adeyanju made the call at the 3rd Biennial Postgraduate Conference of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, on Wednesday.
The conference was themed “Innovative Postgraduate Research for Sustainable Development in the Era of Artificial Intelligence.”
Adeyanju said agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, education, public services and language development were critical areas where the responsible application of AI could provide practical solutions.
He urged universities to move beyond theoretical research and develop indigenous technologies capable of reducing the country’s dependence on imported equipment.
For instance, he said researchers could explore the local production of central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), stressing the need to build domestic capacity in critical technological components.
“How do we solve this problem? Can we have research on how to manufacture hardware? What kind of support do professors need to develop these technologies?” he asked.
Adeyanju warned that continued dependence on foreign technology could expose Nigeria to supply disruptions during global emergencies. He recalled the difficulties countries experienced in accessing COVID-19 vaccines during the pandemic.
He also identified data infrastructure as an important area for investment, saying Nigeria could leverage the Central Bank of Nigeria’s policy requiring banks to maintain their data within the country to attract more investment.
He said the policy could encourage the establishment of additional data centres, strengthen local data management capacity and provide infrastructure to support the country’s growing digital economy.
Earlier, Dr Bunmi Ajala, Senior Special Adviser on AI, Data and Research to the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, said Nigeria had improved its global AI readiness ranking from 103rd in 2023 to 72nd in 2025.
Ajala attributed the improvement to efforts to strengthen the country’s AI ecosystem through research, inclusive consultations and evidence-based policymaking.
He said the Federal Government was developing a national AI strategy and mobilising Nigerian researchers at home and abroad to advance innovation and strengthen the country’s AI capabilities.
Ajala said the research team analysed 50,000 highly ranked AI-related journal articles published between 2018 and 2023 to identify Nigerian researchers working in the field worldwide.
He explained that the publications generated approximately 1.2 million author-level observations, which the team analysed using a database containing nearly one billion names across 106 countries.
Ajala urged universities to ensure that academic research contributed meaningfully to national development by providing evidence-based solutions to the country’s socioeconomic and technological challenges.
Also speaking, the Kaduna State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Sani Sambo, challenged universities to prioritise research capable of improving lives rather than focusing solely on awarding academic qualifications.
“Your work is not only for a certificate; it is a contribution to Nigeria and humanity,” Sambo said.
He urged researchers to demonstrate how their findings could improve agricultural productivity, influence public policy and deliver practical benefits to society.
The commissioner called for stronger collaboration among universities, industries and government, describing the triple helix model as essential to translating research findings into practical solutions.
Sambo said AI could accelerate research but could not replace human curiosity, critical thinking and moral judgment.
He cautioned researchers against plagiarism and data fabrication, urging them to use AI responsibly and uphold academic integrity.
Earlier, the Provost of ABU Postgraduate College, Prof. Oluyinka Okubanjo, said the conference attracted 847 research papers, 747 participants and representatives from 108 universities across six countries.
Okubanjo described the participation as evidence of the conference’s growing national and international profile, reflecting increasing interest in postgraduate research and academic collaboration.
He said the postgraduate college was being repositioned to strengthen ABU’s standing as a leading centre for postgraduate education and research in Africa.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adamu Ahmed, said the university would sustain the conference to improve research quality and strengthen academic collaboration in subsequent editions.
Ahmed, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Prof. Raymond Bako, said the conference provided a platform for scholars and students to exchange ideas, showcase research outcomes and establish productive academic partnerships.
He said the university was committed to positioning its postgraduate college among Africa’s leading centres of excellence in postgraduate education and research.
Ahmed urged participants to uphold academic integrity and originality while presenting their findings confidently, engaging critically with fellow scholars and welcoming constructive feedback.
